Hooooooo Could Be Now?

if you haven't gotten anything for that special lady out at the front desk, you better hurry.
Administrative Assistants Day is just two hours away. most ladies would prefer a pewter hoot owl for their neck, although i think some will settle for a lovely bouquet or one of those over-sized cards that won't fit in the mailbox and so you have to hand deliver them.

out of Africa

here's a quick visual update on my life here in London.
oh, and i'll include one from Monrovia for reference.

Astraeus Airlines, Flight 72

i hate to speak too soon, but i don't feel itchy. my bug bites aren't bothering me at all. maybe all i needed to do was get out of that African Dodge.

of course, when we land at London's Gatwick Airport in 30 minutes my irritation will return in the form of ridiculously high prices and a weak US dollar. but at least my ankles don't need scratching.

the non-non-stop flight

we're sitting on the runway in Freeport, Sierra Leone.

stopped here to pick up more passengers before we continue on to London. (i think there were only five other people with me on this 45 minute flight from Monrovia, Liberia.)

by the way, we missed the runway on the first landing attempt. rather than land at the top of a jungle or the bottom of the Atlantic, the pilot decided to pull up at the last second and circle around for another try. i'm glad he did that, as i would prefer not to crash. but don't they know that i'm trying to get back to LA and this sort of flying is holding me up?

don't know if i'll be back again

i'm sitting in the Golden Bar and Restaurant, inside the "terminal" at the Roberts International Airport outside of Monrovia, Liberia.

i'm nearly alone at the bar, and drinking a large bottle of Club Beer. blaring in the background is a bad Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. this beer is cold, but the glass smells funny. every time i raise the glass to take a sip, my nose crinkles. Natasha Henstridge is also in this movie. she's sort of weird looking. i mean, to be in the "hot" category.

i just heard that the Astraeus flight is on schedule, so i hope to get to London on time.

back on the tv, Van Damme has entered what appears to be a gay bath house. he has suprised his enemy.

i was a little sad to leave the Peet family today. they were so good to me here. and the kids were so cute with their little goodbyes. if i ever return to Liberia, it will be to visit them.

anyway, i'm nervous to fly but i'm excited to get away from this loud Van Damme movie, stinky beer mugs in dirty bars, and Africa in general.

someone to watch over me

one thing that i quickly grew accustomed to here, and will definitely miss- having a staff of people working at the house.
you never arrive home to an empty house. when you pull up to the compound, security opens the gates, directs you all the way into the parking spot, and helps carry your bags into the house. it's as if you pulled up to the entrance of a luxury hotel.

there are two security guards on duty at all times, sitting out on the front drive, with nightsticks on their laps. they are constantly watching over the property.

and the housekeeper is here all day, every weekday. she bleaches my shirts, rotates the bedding daily, and shops for fresh produce.

i will need to bring these people back to Los Angeles with me.


ah, and before i take a nap, let's do a quick Bug Bite count.
Left Leg/Foot: 6
Right Leg/Foot: 24
Left Arm: 5
Right Arm: 13
Neck/Face: 5
Right Buttock: 2

that is a total of 55 bites from spiders, ants, bed bugs, and mosquitos!